MassBike Education Program Gaining Momentum

When I started at MassBike a month ago, I hit the ground rolling with the education program. Teaching current and future bicyclists safety and confidence is an important part of what we do at MassBike, so I was glad to get started on it as soon as I joined the team.

Our commuter workshop program had classes lined up before the snow began to melt, before I had been even been hired. At my first class, I taught a Basic Bike Maintenance course at Harvard Medical School, with about 30 bicyclists in scrubs looking on as I demonstrated how to change a tire and lube a chain. Just this spring, we've taught around 15 commuter courses to over 100 current and prospective bicycle commuters.

Beyond our adult education courses, we also have instructors teaching bicycle safety tips in schools to children ages 10 - 14. Through the support of the MassDOT and a federal Safe Routes to School grant, MassBike is able to offer these classes around the state. Since March, we have taught nearly 20 classes totaling to almost 900 students, in addition to two "Train the Trainer" sessions. By training bike safety trainers at schools, we are opening wide the door to countless future youth trainings by school employees.

Now that Bay State Bike Week is finished, we are going to be moving forward full force with our education program and plan to offer classes open to the public sometime in July. Keep an eye on our calendar, as those classes should be scheduled and posted within the next three or four weeks.

Finally, if you are interested in teaching bike safety courses yourself, please send in an application! We are looking for experienced teachers with an enthusiasm for biking and an interest in making our bike trips safer. You can read the job description here.